For the Grabbag of Life

Current Events 2/6/13

This week, the panel discusses Iran talks, the budget deficit, Jodi Arias, and much more.

1. Will direct talks with the United States and Iran solve anything?

Monique:

It’s doubtful anything will be solved. Iran claims it wants nuclear power for civilian use, the U.S. claims Iran wants WMDs for military use. Civilian use or not, nukes are dangerous, as we well know from the numerous meltdowns, especially the most recent, Fukishima meltdown. I don’t care what they want nukes for…it’s a bad idea.

David:

Why? Never hasbefore. The media just don’t understand what is going on with Iran. Iran is the second biggest power in the ME, but is almost the only power that knows how to use it. The Saudis just are not strong, for reasons that start at the leadership, and Iran wants in that vacuum. The US simply doesn’t want Iran to do this, for reasons of Israel and oil (and not always in that order.

EJ:

No it wont solve anything. It’s clear that Khameni and Ahmadinejad are not interested in any thing the Obama Administration has to propose to them. The Iranians appear to be inflexible on their position on Israel, and the building of their nuclear program. Open dialogue with the United States is pointless.

Steve:

Solve anything? If anything I think it will only make things worse. Iran is not going to give up nuclear weapons, and that is the only thing the United State is going to try and negotiate. I beleive that ultimately, the United States is going to just piss off Iran even more, and no solution will be made.

2. The start of President Obama’s second term is on the ________ track?

Monique:

The “right” track if you’re Obama, his administration, or a woman who wanted to serve in a combat post. The “wrong” track if you’re pro-guns or pro-Constitution. Just saying.

David:

SAME
We got the Dow over 14K for the first time since Oct 2007. So that’s a good thing. Obama is still flipping on everything. I almost wonder why he wanted a second term. He’s only talking. He could have done this as an ex-president and made far more money.

EJ:

The too soon to tell track? I genuinely feel the Obama Administration can go either way at this point. I don’t think the administration is on the right track or the wrong track. There are definitely some question marks out there when it comes down to the economy and foreign relations, and maybe it’s my Obama supporter optimism, but I feel there is a good likelihood that the Administration will lead the nation in due time. It’s going to take compromise and dialogue to get it done, but I feel it can happen.

Steve: I’m

not an Obama supporter, but I have to say that he is on a “pretty good” track so far. His numbers are up, and he is actually seemingly trying to work across the isle and that is what he has to do to accomplish anything during his second term. If he can get Congress and Senate to start working on the important issues, I think he may have a decent second term.

3. Do you buy or sell Ashley Judd running for the Senate in Kentucky?

Monique:

I buy it. If Ronald Reagan can be President, if Arnold Schwarzenegger can be the Govenator, and if Al Franken can be a Congressman, I see no reason why Ashley Judd shouldn’t stand up and represent for the Hollywood Femmes.

David:

Is AL FRANKEN in the Senate? Nothing stuns me anymore, other than the fact Linda McMahon can’t get in after all the cash she’s burned.

EJ:

Sell. I didn’t even know she had designs on running for public office. I did hear recently she is divorcing her husband, racer Dario Franchitti. That seems to be more noteworthy for Ms. Judd. I shouldn’t knock her or what she could bring to the State of Kentucky, but her becoming Senator just seems really far-fetched.

Steve:

Ill buy it. She has been heavily involved with politics over the years, and has many supporters to make a serious run. The way that Sen. Mitch McConnell is gaining popularity (insert sarcasm) anyone could be a serious threat to his Senate seat.

4. Should the United States stop obsessing about the budget deficit?

Monique:

Being quite familiar with financial deficit, I stopped obsessing years ago. The U.S. needs to talk to the working poor about juggling bills throughout a deficit. Now that I think about it, we ought to be putting the poor in Congress, after all, the poor have consistently survived the deficits caused by greedy businesses and their bedfellows, greedy congresses.

David:

Why? We got gay marriage, Ray Lewis, females in combat arms, Honey-boo-boo, and the BCS to talk about. The deficit should be the ONLY thing we talk about. Ask a 100 people what their number 1 stresser is- its not two dudes. I care about all these issues, of course (other than Honey Boo-Boo) but compared to the fact that the VAST majority of the country is in debt, and the country is in debt. I really don’t care what Bruce and Steve are doing in their own home.

EJ:

Yes. Absolutely yes. There seems to be no clear answer on how to stop the deficit, or avoid any fiscal cliff, or recession. There is a ton of talk and little answer. You would have to believe that most Americans have a weary eye on the situation.

Steve:

The US needs to start thinking about how to boost this economy. There is not going to be a real solution to the deficit probably in our lifetime. It is time for the Government to focus on more important issues like Education, Violence, and Jobs.

5. How do you see the Jodi Arias case in Arizona ending?

Monique:

Badly for Jodi, the picture painted in the news does not bode well for the self-defense claim. Insanity would have been a better option.

David:

How much money does she have? Oh right.
The problem here is she changed her story 3/4 times, then claimed self defense. Unless this is Rasputin. Think she overdid it. Shot, slit ear-to-ear, stabbed 29 times? Of course. I don’t know the facts, but we do depend on 12 idiots on American Juries.

EJ:

This whole case is freaky to me. Nude pictures, self defense arguments, and just when you think you have a handle on this case a new argument comes out. Jodi Arias’ case has been compared to Casey Anthony’s and it’s easy to see why. The whole thing is being played out in the media and the court of public opinion. I’ll be honest: I have absolutely no idea how this is going to play out. I’m just waiting for the next freaky revelation to come from this thing.

Steve:

Arias is in trouble, and it is entirely her own words that will do her in. She has been caught up in way too many lies, even more than Casey Anthony, to get out of this one. It is going to take a miracle for her defense team to overcome this one. The only way she gets an aquittal is if the prosecution drops the ball. Martinez is a very tough prosecutor and is not going to make many mistakes. I think she will be found guilty, but will not get the death penalty.

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